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Fulfilling a Wish:

Sept. 26, 2006

The Air Force’s two top leaders are “grateful” that Congress wants to add 10 more C-17s to its fleet, but they want to ensure lawmakers understand that getting the tanker replacement program going is a priority also. Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne told reporters Monday at AFA’s conference that the C-17 addition indicates that Capitol Hill appreciates and wants to address fleet modernization. Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley noted that USAF had asked for seven C-17s at “the top” of its wish list of unfunded priorities for 2007. Moseley said the service would have no trouble absorbing the aircraft as “attrition reserve” replacements for C-17s that are being flown well beyond their programmed hours supporting the wars in Southwest Asia.

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